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Big Potato

A small British studio with a massive personality has gone from surviving a roasting in Dragon’s Den to putting out offbeat games created by Radio 1 DJs and viral YouTubers – all on its own terms. As it prepares for its biggest year yet, we dig up Big Potato

Words by Alex Sonechkina

HOT POTATO

Some of the Big Potato team – and their plushie spud mascot

It is not easy to walk away from an offer of investment from a multimillionaire, but in 2012 Dean Tempest, Tristan Hyatt- Williams and Ben Drummond did exactly that, turning down £50,000 from Duncan Bannatyne on TV show Dragon’s Den.

Although the designers of trivia game Linkee left without a penny, the appearance earned them something more valuable than money: 12 minutes of fame on BBC Two. But even nationwide exposure was a gamble. The segment could have been edited harshly, the trio’s mistakes highlighted rather than cut out, or the pitch could have been a complete flop. Thankfully, the edit was good, the personalities shone through, the pitching skills were on point and Linkee avoided joining the ranks of promising indie games lost to the ever-rising flood of new board game releases. It sold 50,000 copies in a year and, more importantly, planted the seed of something much bigger.

About Tabletop Gaming

It’s time to play the game of thrones in the May issue of Tabletop Gaming magazine, as we venture into Westeros with A Song of Ice and Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game. Get an exclusive look at the sprawling battle game and hear from its co-creator about tackling George R.R. Martin's epic series of fantasy novels and making it a wargame like no other in our massive lead interview.
Moving from fantasy to sci-fi, we blast off with a first look at Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy, the much-anticipated sequel to the acclaimed 2011 space strategy hit. Creator Touko Tahkokallio tells us about making the massive game even bigger and reveals what’s in store for both old fans and newcomers alike.
Whether you’re headed to Birmingham’s NEC this June for the 2018 UK Games Expo or not, you won’t want to miss our round-up of must-see games at the show – including a surprise appearance from Noggin the Nog!
After reinventing ‘80s sci-fi, the creators of RPG phenomenon Tales from the Loop return with their nostalgic take on classic fantasy roleplaying. We venture into Forbidden Lands to find out how the game combines the best of the past with modern sensibilities for a truly stunning experience.
There’s plenty more to enjoy, including a look at the making of rom-com board game Fog of Love, a preview of competitive legacy game The Rise of Queensdale and a chat with quirky British party game studio Big Potato.
We also have the first part of our Star Wars: Legion painting guide, offering essential tips on bringing your army of stormtroopers, speeder bikes and AT-STs to life.
All this, plus our thoughts on the biggest games you should be adding to your collection, with reviews of The City of Kings, Munchkin Collectible Card Game, Empires of the Void II, Star Wars: Dawn of Rebellion, You’ve Got Crabs, Dark Souls: The Card Game, Dungeon Alliance, Sonar and more.
It really is the best way to get your summer started early!